$14m player deal leaves Brisbane Broncos fans stunned

Brisbane Broncos suffered a devastating 18-10 loss to North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday night, a result that has effectively ended their finals hopes for 2026.

It has been a tough season for Broncos coach Michael Maguire, with the reigning premiers impacted badly by a constant injury crisis and off-field speculation.

While much of the chat away from the pitch has been about player unrest and Maguire’s future, Brisbane CEO Dave Donaghy confirmed last week the club are fully behind their coach.

And with that in mind, the hierarchy at Red Hill have been hard at work trying to shape the Broncos squad for next season and beyond. Focus is now on securing some high-quality signings.

Payne Haas, Adam Reynolds and Gehamat Shibasaki are established names who will no longer be on the Broncos’ books next season, with the club’s roster in need of reinforcements.

A number of high-profile names have been linked with a move to Suncorp, none more so than Queensland and Roosters halfback Sam Walker.

Walker is off contract at the end of 2027 and would free to negotiate with rivals from November this year. His stock is higher than ever after some stunning performances this season for both club and state.

Having grown up in Brisbane and signed to a development contract with the Broncos as a teenager, it’s unsurprising that there have been links with a return to Suncorp.

However, Walker and his management firmly closed the door on those links in an interview with Code Sports on Monday.

“Sam’s preference is to stay at the Roosters and we’re hoping we can do a long-term deal there,” his agent Clinton Schifcofske said.

“Sam has done a few two-year deals but this time he wants a long-term deal. That’s the priority.”

And a long-term deal it appears Walker will get, and on a huge scale, with Code reporting the Roosters have offered a $14m deal to the playmaker over 10 years.

Speaking on his contract situation, Walker, who will earn $1.35m per season, added: “I am locked into the Roosters. I love the club there, and I am fully committed to the Roosters at the moment.

“The way they have embraced my family was huge; it’s such a family-first club. I was a Roosters fan as a kid, so I’ve been happy with my decision ever since.”

The Broncos are now faced with the reality that one of the NRL’s most talented players, who was once on their books, will never represent them.

Walker will be 34 when his 10-year contract finishes and there is a strong possibility he will move to the UK Super League when that time comes.

The halfback has previously stated his ambition to play for the Leeds Rhinos before he retires, the city where he was born while his father Ben played for the Rhinos.

And Brisbane fans, who are perhaps not in the greatest mood at present after seeing their team lose 9 out of the last 10 games, have not taken the news well.

One fan told the ‘Broncos Faithful’ Facebook page: “Should of never let him go. Imagine if Walker and Dearden were still in a Broncos uniform.”

Another added: “I would love to know who makes these decisions on which players are good enough to make it. Queensland’s future 6 & 7 both Broncos junior players and won’t be at our club.”

“Too late to the punch. Should have realised his talent when he was a teenager. But no, someone in some high up role decided he wasn’t good enough,” added another.

While many focused on the Broncos mistake not to lock in Walker when he was on a development contract, some fans joked that the club will sign him at the end of his 10-year deal when he’s close to retirement.

It follows on from the decision to re-sign Dane Gagai from the Newcastle Knights for next season. The centre will be 36 come the start of the 2027 campaign.

“Broncos should wait to sign him (Walker) until he’s 34. You know, how we do things up here,” joked one fan.

Another also quipped: “No thanks. In the recruitment protocols for the Broncos we prefer to focus on players that are close to retirement.”

Though the news around Walker’s decision to commit to the Roosters brought a general feeling of disappointment among fans, some of the Broncos faithful chose to be more positive.

One comment said: “We have Pezet coming in, there is also Mam and Duffy. It would be a great signing but the club have missed the opportunity to have Walker at the club. I think we look okay in the halves moving forward.”

Another fan added in conclusion: “As a Broncos fan no thanks. We have Pezet coming. Broncos biggest issue this year has been injuries. So many and with 20 rounds down we only just started getting a full squad back almost. It’s kinda like round 1 for us where most teams are settled, built form etc. I’m actually looking forward to next year with hopefully a fully fit squad, and a more balanced one with a stronger back row.”